1937 Bugatti Type 57SC Atalante Coupe

Robert Eonnet, a member of the French ski team, a bobsledder, and a sportsman, ordered this car on November 4th, 1936. It was delivered on February 25th of 1937 and, at the time, was finished in two-tone blue with a pigskin and beige cloth interior. The car was in Eonnet's care for only a short time; it was sold about a year later and would pass through several owners during the 1930s and 1940s. The ownership during this period is not known.

In April 1951, the car was registered to Count Jacques Teste de Merian Roquevaire of Lyon in Paris. A little over a year later, it was acquired by Yves de la Motte Montgoubert, who sold it in the winter of 1952 to Jean Martin. Marin sold it to Bugatti dealer Jean de Dobbeleer in Brussels in 1957. The following year it was sold to Charles S. Hascall.

At some point in the car's history, it was upgraded to Type 57SC specifications at the factory by either Martin or de Dobeller before Hascall's acquisition.

Hascall, a US Navy doctor stationed in Yokosuka, Japan, had the 57SC shipped to him. While in his care, the car was painted red. When Hascall returned to the US, the car came with him. It was serviced, repaired, and had an engine rebuilt by Bunny Phillips, and around the same time, it was re-painted using a Rolls-Royce color scheme of 'smoke and sage' green. On June 29th, 1974, the car was sold through Bunny Phillips to Dr. Peter and Susan Williamson.

It is a very original car with the same side window glass installed in Molsheim in 1937. The tan leather interior is gently worn and the paint has minor cracks at the stress points.

In 2008, this extremely rare Type 57SC Atalante Coupe was brought to the Gooding & Company auction held in Pebble Beach, CA. This was the auction's highlight and possibly the most original Type 57SC Atalante left in existence. It was sold for a staggering $7,920,000, including the buyer's premium.

By Daniel Vaughan | Mar 2009

The Bugatti Type 57, built between 1936 and 1938, achieved a low-ride height by locating the rear axle through the chassis frame side rails, a feature designed by Jean Bugatti, who had a talent for both styles and form. The Bugatti factory designed two closed-body styles for the Type 57 chassis, the supremely rare Atlantic and the Atalante, just 17 of which were produced.

This particular Atalante was built for Robert Eonnet, a well-known sportsman and member of the French skit team. Eonnet was also a keen amateur racing driver, most notably with his Bugatti Type 51. The next recorded owner, Count Jacques Teste de Merian Roquevaire, registered the car in Paris in April 1951 and had it upgraded to full Type 57SC specification by fitting a supercharger. It later passed through various European owners before coming to the United States in the mid-1960s and being restored by Bugatti expert Bunny Phillips. Dr. Peter Williamson acquired the car for his fine Bugatti collection in 1974, and it was purchased by its current owner in 2016.